Prince Lateef Olasunkami Fagbemi, SAN, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, AGF, has warned security agents to refrain from detaining suspects beyond legally prescribed time.
Speaking on Thursday at the yearly lecture of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), in Abuja, Fagbemi also urged security agents to always abide by provisions of section 35 of the 1999 Constitution in relation to rights of suspects in their custody.
He warned that any defaulting security agent would be severely punished.
Referring to the title of the lecture: “Governance, Security, and Human Rights,” Fagbemi said it was apt and capable of addressing some of the most pressing issues facing the country today.
“Law enforcement agents must do due diligence before arresting anyone adding that situations where people are languishing in detention cells beyond the time allowed under the constitution or by order of the courts, will no longer be tolerated and appropriate sanctions shall be meted out to those found guilty of contravening the laws of the land,” he said.
“The government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not condone any reprehensible action and as the Chief Law Officer of this country, he will ensure no one tramples on the rights of another person.
“On this note, I wish to remind our law enforcement agents that they must respect the laws of the land and not keep people in detention beyond a reasonable time as stipulated in Section 35 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.
“Law enforcement agents must do due their diligence before arresting anyone. Situations where people are languishing in detention cells beyond the time allowed under the constitution or by order of the courts, will no longer be tolerated and appropriate sanctions shall be meted out to those found guilty of contravening the laws of the land.”
